And just like that the year came to a close and it was Christmas (again) .....I had a friend staying for Christmas and New Year so I’ve taken lots of time out from working, both paid and at my own house and was very ready to get back to it on Monday. We had glorious… Continue reading Happy New Year / Bonne Année

Bonjour mes amis! How is it the end of September already?  Seems like only yesterday I sat down to write my last blog way back in June. Or maybe that’s because to look at the house it really doesn’t look that much different!??? First up and quick roof update.   Well short story is I’m still waiting… Continue reading The Long Hot Summer of Temps in the 40s

Bonjour mes amis, Well it’s been a busy few months here and my feet have hardly touched the ground since getting back from India – did I really go away??? Whether it was going to India, the continued wait for summer to arrive and my feeling of a lack of progress here or a combination… Continue reading How is it almost the end of June already?

While I know this isn’t about the house and the frankly bizarre French admin systems, I thought I’d share my Indian trip with you. After a frantic 10 days of catching up with people in the UK with teas, lunches, dinners, birthdays and dancing I finally got on the plane to India. Slight moment of… Continue reading Yoga-ing in India

When I last left you I was just about to take some much-needed time out for me at a yoga retreat in Chamonix. Could not have picked a more beautiful setting – the photos show the view from my bedroom window and the hot tub. It was a very special week with lots of yummy… Continue reading It’s Christmas!!!!

I thought I’d start this update with upstairs because I know you are all dying to see the finished photos.  Ahem, well, unfortunately it is still not quite finished but oh so close.   I have one last bit of repointing to do which will be done just as soon as I get the last… Continue reading The Long Hot Summer of Trips to The Tip

When I last left you I was awaiting my first visitors of the summer and some much needed time out, but as you will see it doesn’t always work like that! Sue and Gez arrived at the end of May and were very encouraging about all the work I’ve been doing, having not seen the… Continue reading Summer is here and the sunflowers are back!

Bonjour mes amis, How is it almost the end of May already? I guess I should start by explaining the title.  You know how you think you’ll do a 5 minute job? Well….  I decided it was time for the ugly concrete step to go.  Builder Dave doesn’t need much encouragement to get his hammer and… Continue reading And the walls came tumbling down….

Bonjour a tous, Well here we are in March already and I’m finding it very hard to believe that come the 21st March I will have been here for a whole year. A big reason for moving to France was the weather. Now while I didn’t expect tropical temps all year I certainly wasn’t expecting… Continue reading A Year In The Charente

So apologies for the lateness in this update and the slight venting, but it’s just been one thing after another here. When I left you Dad had just returned to the UK and I was getting stuck into work again but always here things take way longer than planned to do and each thing I… Continue reading Happy New Year